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Dish is on roof....approx 70ft run to basement where ground blocks are located as well as swm16s and splitters. Should i put the amp and polarity locker in the attic near the dish? if i do i will be before the ground...is that ok? or can i place the amp and polarity locker in the basement near everything else at the end of the 70ft run?

If you are using a SWM16, or are running through some all-power-passing splitters to use two SWM16s, you basically already have a polarity locker right there. Just make sure you are using solid copper core coax to avoid the excessive DC losses that you get with copper-coated steel. (RG11 solid copper would be the best but it can be hard to find.)

As far as signal level, 70ft is not all that long of a run, people have gone much further without an amp. The AGC of the SWM-16 is a big help.

Now, if you are multi-way splitting into a whole bunch of SWM16s, for an MDU or something, that might be a different story since the splitter losses come into play. So in that case you might need an amp.

I agree also....but as you can see from my other thread regarding losing transponders randomly with SWM16 and I have replaced EVERYTHING repeatedly..... I am out of options. I have gone through 5 swm15s already.

I agree also....but as you can see from my other thread regarding losing transponders randomly with SWM16 and I have replaced EVERYTHING repeatedly..... I am out of options. I have gone through 5 swm15s already.

You're trying to band-aid another problem."If" using a locker and an amp does do any good, it would simply be masking the real problem, which should be addressed instead.

70' of good coax isn't a problem that either of these would be needed for.The combined loss of 70' & 2-way splitters, should be ≈ 10 dB, which [again] is well withing the input range of the SWiMs. "The worst" this might cause is rainfade starting a bit sooner than with less loss.

As to losing transponders, can you be more specific?Which ones, which SATs, and does if happen on all receivers?

Only 1 swm16 right now....havent connected the 2nd one yet as I am still having issues with just one. Here is the original thread that you were helping me with.... http://www.dbstalk.c...ad.php?t=210003

thats the only thing i havent done. I was going to do RG11 but can't find any Solid copper through my distributors... I will do RG6 SC. Still doesnt make sense though that it works fine for a while then acts up. If it was a cable issue it should be a problem all the time.

thats the only thing i havent done. I was going to do RG11 but can't find any Solid copper through my distributors... I will do RG6 SC. Still doesnt make sense though that it works fine for a while then acts up. If it was a cable issue it should be a problem all the time.

70' of CCS RG6 is borderline, so it shouldn't be a surprise.You're dealing with a voltage drop because of the resistance.

There are always sellers on eBay who will make up cut to length RG-11 wires pre-connectorized that will save most people money over buying a 1000' spool and a connector installation tool.

I know I've gone a couple hundred feet through copper clad center RG-6 with no voltage problem. Not that I'm recommending it. And with an SLM LNB, you actually have half the effective center conductor resistance because two coaxes in parallel are carrying 18 volts.